5 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Akagera Big Five Safari

This 5 Days Rwanda gorilla & wildlife safari offers the perfect blend of classic African savannah game drives and world-class mountain gorilla trekking. Explore Akagera National Park for lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, then travel to Volcanoes National Park for face-to-face encounters with endangered mountain gorillas and lively golden monkeys.

Departure: Kigali (Daily departures)

Highlights

• Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park ($1,500 permit included)
• Big Five game drives in Akagera National Park (Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards)
• Scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema with hippos and giant Nile crocodiles
• Golden Monkey tracking through bamboo forests
• Cultural visit to Gorilla Guardian Village (Iby'Iwacu)
• Kigali City and Genocide Memorial tour

Wildlife you may see

• Mountain Gorillas
• Golden Monkeys
• Lions
• Rhinos
• Elephants
• Leopards
• Giraffes
• Zebras
• Hippos

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Kigali to Akagera National Park & Afternoon Boat Cruise

   Morning pickup from your Kigali hotel. Drive 2.5 hours east to Akagera National Park. Check into your lodge and embark on an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema to view hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds.

   Meals: Lunch, Dinner

   Stay: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury) / Akagera Game Lodge (Deluxe)

2. Day 2

   Full Day Big Five Game Drive in Akagera

   Spend the full day on game drives heading north through open savannahs, acacia woodlands, and lakes. Spot lions, hyenas, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. Return to camp for dinner around the campfire.

   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Stay: Ruzizi Tented Lodge / Akagera Game Lodge

3. Day 3

   Akagera to Volcanoes National Park via Kigali

   Enjoy a morning game drive as you exit the park. Drive west via Kigali (lunch stop) and continue into the volcanic foothills of Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi (5 hrs drive).

   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Stay: Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco Lodge / Five Volcanoes Hotel / Davinci Lodge

4. Day 4

   Mountain Gorilla Tracking & Afternoon Cultural Walk

   Morning briefing at Kinigi headquarters. Trek into the rainforest to meet a habituated family of mountain gorillas. Spend 1 hour observing the silverback and his troop. In the afternoon, visit the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village.

   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Stay: Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco Lodge / Five Volcanoes Hotel / Davinci Lodge

5. Day 5

   Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer back to Kigali

   Track the rare golden monkeys in the bamboo forest zone. Return to the lodge for lunch, then transfer back to Kigali for drop-off at your hotel or airport.

   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

   Stay: Departure Transfer